In a thrilling showdown at Mong Kok Stadium, Kitchee staged a remarkable comeback in the HKPLC Cup final. Trailing by two goals, they managed to equalize 2:2 against Lee Man within the regulation 90 minutes. The match ultimately went into a dramatic penalty shootout, with Kitchee emerging victorious with a 5:4 scoreline and claiming the championship title with an overall tally of 7:6.
Lee Man made an impressive start to the game, swiftly capitalizing on their first attacking move. An exquisite pass from Mitchel Paulssen found Henri Anier unmarked in the middle, allowing him to effortlessly slot the ball into the net, granting Lee Man a 1:0 lead.
Just five minutes later, Lee Man extended their advantage further. Givanilton, assisted by Henri Anier, broke through the defense through the middle and calmly found the back of the net, making it 2:0 in favor of Lee Man.
However, Kitchee woke up from their slumber and launched a fierce counterattack. Within nine minutes, they managed to pull one back. Mikael capitalized on Igor Sartori's well-placed corner from the right, heading the ball into the net from an unmarked position, reducing the deficit to 1:2.
In the 14th minute, Kitchee completed their comeback. Mikael displayed exceptional vision and skill as he delivered a sublime pass from the top of the penalty area, finding Ruslan Mingazov who controlled the ball with his chest before unleashing a powerful shot, leveling the score at 2:2.
Just before the end of the first half, Kitchee came close to taking the lead. In the 44th minute, the influential Igor Sartori delivered a precise cross from the right, finding Roberto Orlando inside the box, but unfortunately, his close-range strike was denied by the goalkeeper. The first half concluded with both teams locked in a 2:2 draw.
In the second half, Kitchee gained the upper hand as they dictated the proceedings. In the 59th minute, Fernando Augusto's direct free-kick from the edge of the penalty area was met with a strong punch from the goalkeeper.
In the 73rd minute, Lee Man mounted a spirited attack as Simionato Paulo Sergio attempted an audacious acrobatic shot near the top of the penalty area, narrowly missing the target. Kitchee had another opportunity to score in the 80th minute. Ruslan Mingazov skillfully cut inside from the left and fed it to Igor Sartori, but his shot from inside the penalty area was expertly saved by the goalkeeper. Cleiton's subsequent follow-up shot failed to find its mark.
With neither team able to score the winner within 90 minutes, the match was ultimately decided by a penalty shootout.
During the penalty shootout, Kitchee displayed remarkable composure as they converted all five of their spot-kicks, while Lee Man faltered with Henri Anier missing his chance. In the end, Kitchee emerged triumphant with a 5:4 victory in the penalty shootout, securing a 7:6 overall scoreline and clinching the inaugural HKPLC championship.